From Ashes of Scandals to His Embrace novel Chapter 410

Adolphus paused, clearly caught off guard. He hadn’t known Jasper was back either.

“I knew his training was finished, but I had no idea he actually came home. Locke mentioned sending him to Flame Training Camp. Maybe this is just a couple days off for him.”

Laurinda blinked in surprise. She’d heard of Flame Training Camp. It wasn’t quite as brutal as Stonehaven, but it was still the kind of place that haunted people in their dreams. Now, she felt a little worried about Jasper.

Adolphus noticed her unease. He slipped his arm around her waist and pressed close, his voice gentle. “Don’t worry. If Jasper couldn’t handle it, Locke would never even consider sending him. He’s a lot tougher than you think.”

Laurinda glanced back at him, searching his eyes for reassurance.

The confidence in his gaze made her believe him. Maybe she really had underestimated Jasper. Somewhere along the way, he’d grown up without her noticing.

“Laurinda!”

Jasper came running in from outside and stopped just a few steps away. His eyes were red, and he looked at her with a wounded, worried expression.

“Laurinda, why didn’t you tell me you got hurt? Aren’t I your brother?”

Laurinda’s heart squeezed at the sight of him. He was taller now, leaner, stronger. She felt a rush of emotions she couldn’t quite name and reached out her hand.

“I’m really okay. I just didn’t want you to worry.”

With Adolphus stepping in, Jasper’s bravado faded in a heartbeat. He could sense trouble and immediately dropped his gaze, admitting quietly, “I got reckless during the finals. Tried to lure the opponent and ended up falling out of a tree. Hurt my arm, but it’s healed now, really.”

Laurinda ignored Jasper’s attempt at an apology and turned to Adolphus instead.

He knew it was his turn to face the music. He gave her his most apologetic smile.

“As soon as he got hurt, Locke called me. You’d just woken up and I didn’t want to upset you or make things worse. But I promise, as soon as you were asleep, I went straight to the hospital to check on him myself. I made sure everything was okay before I left.”

He reached for Laurinda’s hand, eyes soft and full of hope that she wouldn’t be angry with him.